Kenneth Crozier

veski innovation fellow

In March 2014, Professor Kenneth Crozier accepted the offer of a veski innovation fellowship worth $150,000 over three years. The funding of this fellowship will be matched in cash and in-kind by his host organisation the University of Melbourne.

After an impressive start in Victoria, Professor Crozier has gained an international reputation as one of the leading researchers in micro- and nano- optical structures and their applications in imaging, sensing and lab-on-a-chip.

Research project: Advancing the frontiers of imaging through optical micro- and nanostructures

Optical technologies play a key role in everyday Australian life from the lasers and optical fibres required for high-speed Internet, to the image sensors for digital photography, to the microscopes in research institutes across the country, and the lasers used for surgery.

Professor Kenneth Crozier will deliver an integrated program of research, education and commercialisation that will also involve training the next generation of Australian optical scientists.

Through this project he will develop optical technologies based on nanoscience that could enable digital cameras to ‘see’ more than colour, individual viruses and molecules to be held in place and observed, and large area biological samples to be imaged at high resolution with unprecedented speed.

Not only will the project benefit Australian society, it will also give industry access to cutting-edge breakthroughs in optical science.

With a combination of support from the veski innovation fellowship and the University of Melbourne, Professor Crozier will recruit a team of PhD students and research fellows, which will further enhance Victoria’s knowledge economy.

Professor Crozier will also form close collaborations with industry. The goal will be for the technology developed in the program to be commercialised and deliver more benefits for Victorians.

Kenneth firmly believes that communicating the excitement and societal relevance of his work to the general public will have a beneficial impact upon fostering the next generation of innovators in Victoria.

Key facts

In the USA, Kenneth studied at Stanford University before moving to Harvard University as a faculty member in 2004.

In 2008, promoted to John Loeb Associate Professor of the Natural Sciences, a distinguished position at Harvard University.

Advisor to PhD students and postdocs who have gone on to faculty appointments, industry positions and postdoctoral fellowships in leading laboratories.

Awarded the L.R. East Medal by the Institute of Engineers, Australia for graduating as top student in engineering at the University of Melbourne.

With more than 80 journal publications, Kenneth has attracted an impressive record of 3000+ citations since 20091. He is also committed to collaborations and commercialisation and has 12 provisional and issued patents.

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“Australian society will benefit in two ways from this research. Firstly, with applications in new types of digital cameras and high-speed microscopes. Secondly, we’re building the human infrastructure required for future advances in this field in Australia.”